Tiny cracks/cuts on my fingers! Dry Hands! Too much handwashing ! OOooww! Help !

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Hand creme and Bag Balm. But I would definitely look into speaking with Occ health about powerless gloves as it could be a glove allergy (to the powder or the latex if your gloves are not latex-free). Use the Palmer's during the day (nice smell and the light fragrence does not seem to irritate cracked hands and it feels so soothing) and working hours and the Bag Balm at nite with a pair of cotton gloves (the bag balm has antiseptic properties to it as well). It works wonders for healing. If you need to be getting your hands wet at home, I would also suggest you get a couple of pair of the yellow, lined gloves for dishwashing that they sell in the grocery/department store in the housewares department. It will offer you some protection while you are at home. The other thing that my former facility used that was recommended by the CDC and approved by JAHCO was called Cal-Stat it was a waterless hand cleanser by a company called Steris and you could use it up to 5-6 times before needed to use soap and water. It is, let me emphasize, that it is NOT a substitute for good handwashing but it helps keep your hands out of the water. Obviously if you are getting grossly soiled you need that soap and water but it helps. i would not use it till your hands heal up as it does have an alcohol base. But it smells pretty good and despite the alcohol base did not bother my ultra sensitive hands (who do you know that is allergic to nitrile gloves????!!!??) Steris also makes a soap called Kindest Kare....it is actually a body/hair soap that a pt can use to shower with if necessary and is effective against MRSA and VRE. You might want to look into seeing if you can purchase some from the company, www.steris.com , as I know that you work for a travel agency and probably change soaps like you do facilities....frequently! Hope your poor hands are on the mend soon!

Bag Balm works, although it has a nasty, greasy texture that I can't stand. And Udderly Smooth may be the stuff that comes in the black and white holstein-spotted tube. If so, it's good, too. I've tried Clinique hand cream, which works well but it's so expensive you hate to slather it on.

The best (and cheapest) solution I've ever found is a product called "weather Guard" for protecting cow's teats from the cold weather. My mother, who used to work for a company that does artificial insemination of farm animals got me a 3 pound tub for $18! Hubby and I both use it. It's got a great texture, mild aloe smell and color and it's so cheap that you don't mind using it as often as possible. Furthermore, it lasts through a handwashing or three. At the beginning of each shift, I put a dab into a med cup and put it next to the sink in my patient's room so I can use it as often as I need to.

I know you can get the stuff from vet supply places, and probably places like Farm 'n Fleet (or is it Fleet 'n Farm?) and Cenex. I've still got plenty left, so I haven't looked for it for awhile.

Ruby

My mom swore by it so I buy it now and it does work but is hard to find. It is Pacquin Plus Dry Skin Formula hand and body cream. Hard to rub in but it does work. I have to put straight vaseline on my face in the winter. It is in a pink and white jar.

renerian